A criminal complaint was filed against 36-year-old Catalina Garcia and 19-year-old Maricarmen Palomeravilla on Jan 17 for second degree burglary under PC 459-460 (b). Garcia and Palomeravilla had entered a TJ Maxx located at 3201 Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara with the intention of stealing merchandise.
The two shoplifters were only interested in Michael Kors purses and wallets
The Santa Clara Police Dept responded to TJ Maxx loss prevention employees reporting that two female suspects had entered their store and were seen removing security tags from purses and wallets. Advising officers that the suspects had just left the store with concealed merchandise, a lookout began for a red Acura leaving eastbound on Mission College Blvd. An officer spotted the vehicle a short time later entering an In-N-Out Burger located just a few blocks away.
The loss prevention employee arrived at the scene and identified to officers that these were the female suspects he had seen entering the store. In fact, on his way into the store he had seen Garcia also entering the store. He felt he knew immediately that she was there to steal purses and wallets by removing the security tags, using a device to pry them off. As Garcia removed the tags, Palomeravilla would then roll the purses up into a larger DKNY purse taken from the rack.
The pair concealed their loot in a larger handbag.
Two scarves were also taken to help conceal the purses inside, and they left the store without making an attempt to pay for the items. Inside the suspects’ vehicle six purses were found. Five were identified as Michael Kors brand purses, along with one being identified as the DKNY purse used to smuggle out the items. The total value of the merchandise equaled $1,164.92.
TJ Maxx on Mission College Blvd. in Santa Clara.
According to court documents, a bench warrant was issued for the re-arrest of Palomeravilla for failure to appear for sentencing after giving a guilty plea, in which she was to receive 3-years probation and a 4-month county jail term on March 13. Her next court hearing was set for March 18, 2014 for new charges after being re-arrested for failure to appear. Her bail of $20,000 was revoked and another bail hearing set a new amount of $10,000.
